Supersilent
Encyclopedia
Supersilent is a Norwegian
avant-garde
/improvisational music group formed in Bergen
in 1997 and signed on Rune Grammofon
. They are known for making only improvised music
and for the distinctive uniformity of their album cover
s.
Many details regarding the band suggests jazz as a classification: three of the four members of the band were formally educated as jazz musicians, the group regularly participate in jazz festivals, and their approach is to a certain extent informed by more amorphous, freer forms of jazz. However, their prominent use of electronic instrumentation
such as synthesizer
s, theremin
, loop pedals
, and tape loops, as well as the rejection of traditional jazz structures leads some to place the group's music outside their personal conception of the jazz genre.
trio Veslefrekk (Arve Henriksen
on trumpet, keyboardist Ståle Storløkken, and Jarle Vespestad
on drums) played a concert with producer and live electronics artist Helge Sten (also known as Deathprod
). The concert encouraged them to record a three-disc, three-hour compilation of abrasive improvised material, simply titled 1-3, which was the label Rune Grammofon
's very first release in 1997. The name Supersilent derives from a logo on a truck seen in Oslo
by the group around the time of these sessions.
They refined their sound slightly on the follow-up, 4, which was released a year after, and in 2001, they released 5, culled from live recordings between 1999 and 2000 that changed the focus to slowly shifting textures and an almost ambient
pace.
Their 2003 release 6
is their most critically acclaimed album yet, with a focus on gentler and more melodic material. 7, released in 2005 is a DVD
concert film
showcasing a 2004 performance in its entirety, and is another of the group's most acclaimed works.
8 was a studio album released in 2007 to mostly positive reviews. The material recorded in the 8 sessions was initially publicly announced for release as a double album entitled 8-9, but only a single album was released. Remaining material from these sessions is scheduled for release as the vinyl-only album 11.
Early in 2009, the group announced that their drummer Jarle Vespestad
had departed to pursue other musical interests. The remaining three members continued recording material and appearing live. Their seventh release, 9 was released in late 2009, and is a documentation of a single concert the trio performed earlier that year, featuring non-standard instrumentation (three Hammond organ
s).
The group's next release has been revealed to be made up of "more acoustic" material, featuring the use of piano
, recorded in the studio by the trio prior to the recording of 9. Entitled 10, this album was released on August 23, 2010.
, is of a minimalist aesthetic; entirely white, with the exception of the cover and CD or LP label, which are printed a different colour on each release. Each label displays information about the tracks contained on the disc, and each cover displays the name and album number of the release, along with a barcode
and recording and catalog details.
In keeping with the format of numbering each album, each track is numbered, reflecting the designation of the album it appears on and its position within the album. For example: the fourth track on the album 5 is entitled "5.4".
Tracks unreleased on any album but contributed to promotional compilations are prefixed with the letter C and are numbered after the compilation they appear on. For example, the track contributed to the third compilation the group were involved with was named "C - 3.1". So far six such tracks have been released between 1999 and 2008, each on a different compilation.
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
avant-garde
Avant-garde music
Avant-garde music is a term used to characterize music which is thought to be ahead of its time, i.e. containing innovative elements or fusing different genres....
/improvisational music group formed in Bergen
Bergen
Bergen is the second largest city in Norway with a population of as of , . Bergen is the administrative centre of Hordaland county. Greater Bergen or Bergen Metropolitan Area as defined by Statistics Norway, has a population of as of , ....
in 1997 and signed on Rune Grammofon
Rune Grammofon
Rune Grammofon is a Norwegian record label founded in 1998 by Rune Kristoffersen. Rune Grammofon's reputation for lovingly issued experimental electronic music, jazz, and improvised music by Norwegian artists has grown over the years with its artists being featured heavily in magazines such as The...
. They are known for making only improvised music
Free improvisation
Free improvisation or free music is improvised music without any rules beyond the logic or inclination of the musician involved. The term can refer to both a technique and as a recognizable genre in its own right....
and for the distinctive uniformity of their album cover
Album cover
An album cover is the front of the packaging of a commercially released audio recording product, or album. The term can refer to either the printed cardboard covers typically used to package sets of 10" and 12" 78 rpm records, single and sets of 12" LPs, sets of 45 rpm records , or the front-facing...
s.
Many details regarding the band suggests jazz as a classification: three of the four members of the band were formally educated as jazz musicians, the group regularly participate in jazz festivals, and their approach is to a certain extent informed by more amorphous, freer forms of jazz. However, their prominent use of electronic instrumentation
Electronic musical instrument
An electronic musical instrument is a musical instrument that produces its sounds using electronics. Such an instrument sounds by outputting an electrical audio signal that ultimately drives a loudspeaker....
such as synthesizer
Synthesizer
A synthesizer is an electronic instrument capable of producing sounds by generating electrical signals of different frequencies. These electrical signals are played through a loudspeaker or set of headphones...
s, theremin
Theremin
The theremin , originally known as the aetherphone/etherophone, thereminophone or termenvox/thereminvox is an early electronic musical instrument controlled without discernible physical contact from the player. It is named after its Russian inventor, Professor Léon Theremin, who patented the device...
, loop pedals
Sampler (musical instrument)
A sampler is an electronic musical instrument similar in some respects to a synthesizer but, instead of generating sounds, it uses recordings of sounds that are loaded or recorded into it by the user and then played back by means of a keyboard, sequencer or other triggering device to perform or...
, and tape loops, as well as the rejection of traditional jazz structures leads some to place the group's music outside their personal conception of the jazz genre.
History
Supersilent was formed in 1997, when the free jazzFree jazz
Free jazz is an approach to jazz music that was first developed in the 1950s and 1960s. Though the music produced by free jazz pioneers varied widely, the common feature was a dissatisfaction with the limitations of bebop, hard bop, and modal jazz, which had developed in the 1940s and 1950s...
trio Veslefrekk (Arve Henriksen
Arve Henriksen
Arve Henriksen is a Norwegian trumpet player, renowned for his distinctive, flute-like sound on the trumpet, inspired by the sound of the Japanese shakuhachi flute. He also sings; his unique wordless vocalising was central to Chiaroscuro, where he often sings in a soprano's range...
on trumpet, keyboardist Ståle Storløkken, and Jarle Vespestad
Jarle Vespestad
Jarle Vespestad is a Norwegian jazz percussionist.He graduated from the Toneheim Folk High School and Jazzlinja...
on drums) played a concert with producer and live electronics artist Helge Sten (also known as Deathprod
Deathprod
Deathprod is a musical pseudonym used by Norwegian artist Helge Sten for his ambient-influenced music.-Biography:Sten began creating music under this name starting in 1991, culminating with a box set of most of his recorded work being released in 2004...
). The concert encouraged them to record a three-disc, three-hour compilation of abrasive improvised material, simply titled 1-3, which was the label Rune Grammofon
Rune Grammofon
Rune Grammofon is a Norwegian record label founded in 1998 by Rune Kristoffersen. Rune Grammofon's reputation for lovingly issued experimental electronic music, jazz, and improvised music by Norwegian artists has grown over the years with its artists being featured heavily in magazines such as The...
's very first release in 1997. The name Supersilent derives from a logo on a truck seen in Oslo
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
by the group around the time of these sessions.
They refined their sound slightly on the follow-up, 4, which was released a year after, and in 2001, they released 5, culled from live recordings between 1999 and 2000 that changed the focus to slowly shifting textures and an almost ambient
Ambient music
Ambient music is a musical genre that focuses largely on the timbral characteristics of sounds, often organized or performed to evoke an "atmospheric", "visual" or "unobtrusive" quality.- History :...
pace.
Their 2003 release 6
6 (Supersilent album)
-Personnel:*Arve Henriksen – vocals, trumpet, percussion*Helge Sten – live electronics, synthesizer, electric guitar*Ståle Storløkken – synthesizer*Jarle Vespestad – drums-Release history:-External links:**...
is their most critically acclaimed album yet, with a focus on gentler and more melodic material. 7, released in 2005 is a DVD
DVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
concert film
Concert film
A concert movie, or concert film, is a type of documentary film, the subject of which is an extended live performance or concert by a musician ....
showcasing a 2004 performance in its entirety, and is another of the group's most acclaimed works.
8 was a studio album released in 2007 to mostly positive reviews. The material recorded in the 8 sessions was initially publicly announced for release as a double album entitled 8-9, but only a single album was released. Remaining material from these sessions is scheduled for release as the vinyl-only album 11.
Early in 2009, the group announced that their drummer Jarle Vespestad
Jarle Vespestad
Jarle Vespestad is a Norwegian jazz percussionist.He graduated from the Toneheim Folk High School and Jazzlinja...
had departed to pursue other musical interests. The remaining three members continued recording material and appearing live. Their seventh release, 9 was released in late 2009, and is a documentation of a single concert the trio performed earlier that year, featuring non-standard instrumentation (three Hammond organ
Hammond organ
The Hammond organ is an electric organ invented by Laurens Hammond in 1934 and manufactured by the Hammond Organ Company. While the Hammond organ was originally sold to churches as a lower-cost alternative to the wind-driven pipe organ, in the 1960s and 1970s it became a standard keyboard...
s).
The group's next release has been revealed to be made up of "more acoustic" material, featuring the use of piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
, recorded in the studio by the trio prior to the recording of 9. Entitled 10, this album was released on August 23, 2010.
Approach to packaging and formatting
The packaging of the group's albums, designed by Kim HiorthøyKim Hiorthøy
Kim Hiorthøy is a Norwegian electronic musician, graphic designer, illustrator, filmmaker and writer.-Biography:Hiorthøy was born and raised in Trondheim, Norway, and studied at the Trondheim Academy of Fine Art as well as the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts in Copenhagen...
, is of a minimalist aesthetic; entirely white, with the exception of the cover and CD or LP label, which are printed a different colour on each release. Each label displays information about the tracks contained on the disc, and each cover displays the name and album number of the release, along with a barcode
Barcode
A barcode is an optical machine-readable representation of data, which shows data about the object to which it attaches. Originally barcodes represented data by varying the widths and spacings of parallel lines, and may be referred to as linear or 1 dimensional . Later they evolved into rectangles,...
and recording and catalog details.
In keeping with the format of numbering each album, each track is numbered, reflecting the designation of the album it appears on and its position within the album. For example: the fourth track on the album 5 is entitled "5.4".
Tracks unreleased on any album but contributed to promotional compilations are prefixed with the letter C and are numbered after the compilation they appear on. For example, the track contributed to the third compilation the group were involved with was named "C - 3.1". So far six such tracks have been released between 1999 and 2008, each on a different compilation.
Line-up
- Arve HenriksenArve HenriksenArve Henriksen is a Norwegian trumpet player, renowned for his distinctive, flute-like sound on the trumpet, inspired by the sound of the Japanese shakuhachi flute. He also sings; his unique wordless vocalising was central to Chiaroscuro, where he often sings in a soprano's range...
- vocals, trumpetTrumpetThe trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...
, percussionPercussion instrumentA percussion instrument is any object which produces a sound when hit with an implement or when it is shaken, rubbed, scraped, or otherwise acted upon in a way that sets the object into vibration... - Helge Sten - live electronicsElectronic musical instrumentAn electronic musical instrument is a musical instrument that produces its sounds using electronics. Such an instrument sounds by outputting an electrical audio signal that ultimately drives a loudspeaker....
, synthesizerSynthesizerA synthesizer is an electronic instrument capable of producing sounds by generating electrical signals of different frequencies. These electrical signals are played through a loudspeaker or set of headphones...
, electric guitarElectric guitarAn electric guitar is a guitar that uses the principle of direct electromagnetic induction to convert vibrations of its metal strings into electric audio signals. The signal generated by an electric guitar is too weak to drive a loudspeaker, so it is amplified before sending it to a loudspeaker... - Ståle Storløkken - synthesizerSynthesizerA synthesizer is an electronic instrument capable of producing sounds by generating electrical signals of different frequencies. These electrical signals are played through a loudspeaker or set of headphones...
- Jarle VespestadJarle VespestadJarle Vespestad is a Norwegian jazz percussionist.He graduated from the Toneheim Folk High School and Jazzlinja...
(1997–2009) - drums
Discography
All titles released by Rune Grammofon. Titles are live studio albums unless otherwise noted.- 1-3 - (1997) - triple live studio album
- 4 - (1998)
- 5 - (2001) - live album (tour)
- 66 (Supersilent album)-Personnel:*Arve Henriksen – vocals, trumpet, percussion*Helge Sten – live electronics, synthesizer, electric guitar*Ståle Storløkken – synthesizer*Jarle Vespestad – drums-Release history:-External links:**...
- (2003) - 7 - (2005) - concert filmConcert filmA concert movie, or concert film, is a type of documentary film, the subject of which is an extended live performance or concert by a musician ....
- 8 - (2007)
- 9 - (2009) - live album (single concert)
- 10 - (2010)
- 11 - (2010)
- 100 - (2010) - part of Twenty Centuries Of Stony Sleep (Box set)